Diary of a Mother: Parenting Stories and Other Stuff [Anglais] [Broché]

Cartoon Cathy meets Erma Bombeck in this hilarious collection of short stories that will keep you laughing and crying from cover to cover. Christine Hohlbaum reels you into the world of child mayhem as she recounts tales of life with small children. From potty-training to the magic of Santa Claus, this book tells all about the ups and downs of parenting. A splendid addition to your leisure reading list!

Christine Louise Hohlbaum has been writing short stories since she was eleven. As a bilingual American, Hohlbaum currently lives near Munich, Germany with her husband and two children.

Prologue

Dear Diary,

There is a reason why I haven’t written to you in several years. You see, I have had children since my last entry: two of them to be exact. What can I say? I’ve been a little busy. Given that my life has taken a new turn, I have decided that you are an important piece that has been missing too long. It is time to put an end to it. So here I am, eking out five minutes, sitting on the toilet in the bathroom farthest from the children’s room. It seems as though the bathroom is where I do a lot of things: pay bills, read the paper, talk on the phone. It has turned into an office of sorts. Well, never mind that. I have found gratitude in the littlest things since my kids were born.

The last time I wrote, I was a successful career woman. I owned expensive, dry-clean-only clothing. My nails were often manicured, and I found pleasure in sleeping, a lot. I used to get my hair cut every six weeks. My car was always clean, my mirrors at home sparkled, and I never, never bought Cheerios. God, how my life has changed.

You are my only hold on sanity right now, Dear Diary. There have been many times where I have been two steps away from a straightjacket and the rubber room. You have guarded me against those things. No one would believe the things I have seen unless I record them as they happen. You are my testimony to the mundane, the hilarious, the frightening, and the paranormal. Above all else, I feel I owe it to myself to record my children’s stories. Perhaps one day they will see themselves through their mother’s lenses. It’s good to have you because you are my memory, my reminder of these times. You are proof that there is life with children.